Tunisia climate guide

The Tunisia climate guide is perfect for planning your holiday. Monthly weather averages give the best indication of what the weather is usually like for every month of the year including figures for temperature, rainfall and sunshine. Read more about the climate in Tunisia.

Tunisia climate overview

Tunisia is the smallest country in North Africa, wedged between Algeria and Libya. Historically it occupied an important strategic position in the Mediterranean commanding the entrance to the Strait of Sicily. Among the country's main tourist attractions are its fine beaches and some spectacular Roman ruins.

Although the south of the country borders the Sahara Desert the north receives sufficient rainfall for the cultivation of cereals such as wheat, as well as the usual Mediterranean produce, such as olives, citrus fruits and wine. In Roman times this part of North Africa was the 'breadbasket' of the Empire.

The terrain of most of the north is hilly with mountains to the west and a coastal plain stretching east and south of the old capital of Kairouan. Here there are fine beaches stretching from Hammamet to the island of Djerba in the Gulf of Gabes.

From the end of May to the beginning of October in this half of the country it is dry and hot, particularly when Saharan winds blow from the south. The mountains can provide an escape from the summer heat, as can sea breezes along the coast. Long periods of sunshine from the end of June to the end of August are practically guaranteed.

In October clouds start to build and there is some rainfall through the cooler winter months. Temperatures can fall below freezing at night anywhere in the north of the country between December and March. However maximum daytime temperatures are mostly comfortable.

On high ground there can be occasional snow flurries, but since there are very few mountains above 1,000 metres (3,300ft), snow does not settle for long.

In the southern half of the country it is dry all year round with just a slightly greater chance of the odd shower between October and April. With the exception of a few pockets of vegetation around sources of underground water it is all barren desert, sandy to the west and rocky to the east.

Near the town of Tozeur in the west is the immense salt lake of Chott el-Jerid. This area was once part of an inlet that stretched over 250 miles into the desert from the Mediterranean Sea. In winter water collects but is mostly evaporated off by the end of the summer. In July and August heat and humidity are usually extreme around Chott el-Jerid, and it can become dangerously hot.